How Being Around Nature Can Improve Your Business (and your health)

Interacting with nature gives your brain a break for the constant stimuli which can have a restorative effect on your attention levels.

Benefits of Being Around Water:

Children love swimming and taking baths. Some of our best ideas come to us in the shower. Just having a fountain or a plant on our desk can be soothing. But why is this?

Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60% of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

We now have studies that prove we need to not only consume water daily but immersion in water reduces stress, partly by balancing the flux between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and counter acts the constant stimulus of stress

Blue Mind a book by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols draws a scientific connection between ocean or lakes and our health and happiness. In his book Nichols states “it’s clear that water can help us access the state called “flow,” where we connect to the default mode network, or daydreaming parts of our brain. This can restore our ability to focus and perform cognitive and creative tasks with greater ease.”

[Blue Mind is in contrast to “Red Mind,” which neuroscientist Catherine Franssen, PhD, describes as an “edgy high, characterized by stress, anxiety, fear, and maybe even a little bit of anger and despair.”]

Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when you put your feet in the pool? Listen to the river or a fountain or even have a big drink of water? How can you add more “water” exposure into your daily life?

Benefits of Being Around Trees & Plants:

Forest and tress have similar benefit of water. Don’t believe me? The Japanese government values the practice of “forest bathing” (just being in the presence of trees), so much that is it’s included in their healthcare budget. The Japanese discovered that just being around trees lowers your cortisol (stress hormone), pulse rate, blood pressure after 30-minutes among trees.

Carrie D Clarke

Carrie D. Clarke, J.D. is lawyer turned business coach and personal strategist. Carrie collaborates with small business owners and executives to increase their profits and accomplish goals by focusing on values, applying evidence-based strategies and enhancing their strengths. Carrie is available for speaking engagements, 1:1 coaching and custom workshops.